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Y Y BUTTON. N-0.139 2,377. Patented NOV. 6, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT S. THAYER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,377, dated November6, 1888.

Application filed April 18, 1888. Serial No. 271,058. (No modehl .Toa/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. THAYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons 5and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to an improvement in buttons, and has forits object to produce certain result-s which have not been hithertoobtained by any of the known methods. A

This invention consists, primarily, of a button made from'a blank, ofleather, leather'- board, or other suitable substance, said blank havingits circumferential edges rounded and hardened, and its central portionsofter than said edges, or in the normal condition as it existed in thematerial from which it was cut, and adapted t'o receive the shank-eye orfastening device preparatory to being compressed to form the button, allas will be more fully described hereinafter.

Figure l represents a plan view of a blank as cut from a sheet or stripof material. Fig. 2 is asectional side elevation ofthe same.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the blank, with the edges rounded and hardened.Fig. 4 is acentral sectional side elevation-of the same. Fig. 5 is alike view ofthe blank with an eyeshank inserted therein. Fig. 6represents a complete button. Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of theblank with a nail inserted. Fig. 8 represents a completed upholsterynail or button.

In carrying out my improvement the blank a is first cut from a sheet orstrip of suitable material, leather-board or leather' being preferred,as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The blank is thensubjected to a rolling process, which compacts and hardens the cornersand edge, forming the roundedged blank c', as` illustrated in Figs. 3and 4, leaving the central portion of the blank substantially in itsnormal condition as it existed in the blank-that is, the edges andcorners c of the blank are hardened, making them smoothand'compact-while the fiber of the central portion of the button-blank,where the eye-shank b or fastening device is to be inserted, ispractically unchanged. The fastening device b is then inserted into theblank in any known manner, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, the formerhaving an eye-shank, the latter a nail-fastening secured therein. Theblank, with the fastening inserted, is then subjected to a heavypressure, which forms the blank into the desired shape, and firmlysecures the yfastening device b therein, forming the complete button, asillustrated in Figs. 6 and'S of the drawings. The buttons are thencolored or finished to suit the requirements of the trade.

I am thus enabled to produce a button which is stronger and more durablethan those at present in the market. The edges being hardand compact arenot liable to flake or become rough and ragged. They are also smooth,and therefore cannot injure the button-hole or1 other article incontact.

I do not claim in this specification the method of making buttons andanalogous articles, as herein described,as the same is more fullydescribed and claimed in an application, filed by me December 13, 1887,Serial No. 257 ,7 55.

Having described Iny invention, I claim- 1. The button-blank hereindescribed, having hardened chamfered edges, and a central portion softerthan said edges, or in the normal condition as it existed in the stripfrom which it was cut, and adapted to receive an eyeshank, nail, orother fastening device preparatory to being pressed into shape to form abutton, substantially as described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a button having rolled andhardened circumferential edges and provided with an eyeshank or othersuitable fastening device, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I aii'ix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

HERBERT S. THAYER.

